Berries vs. Everybody Else

How much do name preferences on Nameberry forums reflect those of the general population? Does this site tend to attract people who often like the same kinds of names?

I was reading through all of the posts on the recent "top ten" thread in the Girls' Names forum and noticed a lot of similarities - and was particularly struck by how our current top name pick for baby girl #2 showed up on MANY of the lists, even though it's in the 300s for the 2011 social security list.

Just curious to know more from those of you who have been around longer than I have!

I personally think this site tends to attract people who are looking to avoid the top 100 names and/or the trendiest "unique" choices in favor of an underused (and possibly even obscure) gem or a quirky-but-attractive word name.

It absolutely does not reflect the general population. From my non-scientific observations, I believe the Nameberry population is generally wealthier, whiter, better-educated, more "hipster," and much more heavily female than the rest of the population. Berries also have a very particular taste in names-I don't think most people would find Mackenzie repulsive or Agnes charming, but that seems to be the style of Nameberry.

I think it's better to ask your friends and family if you want a general population opinion about a name, honestly. However, berries know much more about names, so both views are valuable!